NYSE Euronext (NYX, Fortune 500) reported net income of $121 million, or 47 cents per share, in the first quarter. That was down from $130 million, or 50 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Duncan Niederauer, the company's chief executive, said NYSE Euronext faces "near-term headwinds" as it continues to struggle with a "challenging operating environment."

Overall, companies that operate exchanges for stocks and derivatives have been struggling with weak trading volumes as investors have been sidelined by the global economic downturn, said Chris Allen, an equity analyst at Evercore Partners.

"Without economic growth, you're going to have more subdued trading activity," he said. In addition, low levels of market volatility and low interest rates have also taken a toll on trading volumes, he added.